San Francisco, California

Israeli comfort food a block from Yerba Buena - proper hummus, fresh pita, no fuss.

An Arabic-inspired coffee place - a nice change of pace from the standard third-wave circuit.

Brunch in a lovely forest-cabin interior, right next to Yerba Buena. Cosy without trying too hard.

A simple open space with a good lighting and visuals setup - the room gets out of the way and lets the production do the work.

A library-themed, fantastical bar with great cocktails - shelves of books, low light, and drinks that live up to the theatrics.

The one by the Salesforce Tower, and it's very, very good - lots of equipment and plenty of space, all on a relatively cheap day pass. The pick of the FITNESS SF branches.

A great visit in the day and lovely at night, when the neon lighting comes on around the gardens.

The classic Wharf seafood house, out on its own pier. Touristy by location, proper by execution.

Had an Irish coffee at the historic bar - this is the place that made Irish coffee famous in America, and they still turn them out in production lines along the counter.

A destination in itself - sea lions, chowder stands, and boats. Lean into the tourist thing for an afternoon.

Drinks and food right on the Sausalito waterfront - a well-earned landing after the ride over the bridge.

Had an unreal fried chicken sandwich here. Beer hall by the water - the reward at the end of the ride.

Ride over the Golden Gate, eat and drink well in Sausalito, then catch the sunset ferry back across the bay. One of the best days out the city has.

An enormous place - the atrium is a sight in itself - with good service throughout. A well-placed base on the Embarcadero.

Good gym space for a relatively cheap day pass. The Embarcadero branch is fine - it does the job - but the Transbay one is the pick if you can get there.

The oldest dim sum tea room in America, tucked down a Chinatown alley. Come hungry and order too much.

Went during peak lunch hours and it was slammed with locals, in a good way. Great if you can come with a group, though you'll need some patience to get in despite the capacity. Great dim sum.

Also an excellent frutti di mare, and the more authentically Italian room of the two - proper Tuscan trattoria energy across from Washington Square.

Had an unreal frutti di mare here (of course) and a beautiful salmon linguine. The more casual of North Beach's seafood Italians - counter seats, old photos, zero pretension.

Often busy, and for good reason - very authentic, hearty Japanese food. Worth queueing for a bowl.

Exactly what it says on the tin. If you're looking for the stereotypical American diner - booths, milkshakes, the lot - it's here on Mission Street.

Had private dining in the Barolo room - excellent food and attentive staff throughout.

The 21st-floor bar at the Beacon Grand - the old Harry Denton's Starlight Room reborn. Art deco room, serious cocktails, and the city laid out below.